: a low vibratory murmur typical of an apparently contented or pleased cat
purred; purring; purrs
1
: to make a purr or a sound like a purr
cars purring along the highway
2
a
: to speak in a manner that resembles a purr
b
: to speak in a malicious catty manner
Examples of purr in a Sentence
Noun
the soft purr of a car engine
listened to the reassuring purr of the car engine
Verb
The cat was purring contentedly in my lap.
The cars were purring along the highway.
“You look tense. Let me buy you a drink,” he purred.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
Baldwin’s husky purr of a voice sets the table for the events of the film, before settling back to pop in every now and then with an omniscient insight or unspoken truth.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Bryan West, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The findings supported the hypothesis that a genetic basis exists for both purring and other forms of vocal communication in cats.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
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Noun
In a clever flex of corporate synergy, Apple promoted its first summer blockbuster with the release of a haptic trailer that imitates the purr of an F1 engine in the palms of your hands.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
Baldwin’s husky purr of a voice sets the table for the events of the film, before settling back to pop in every now and then with an omniscient insight or unspoken truth.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Verb
The rehabilitation facility in Geed Deeble, Somaliland, shared a video of the cub purring behind some wild grass.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The findings supported the hypothesis that a genetic basis exists for both purring and other forms of vocal communication in cats.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purr. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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